Seeking to bring new life to the Hinnom Valley beneath the Old City walls, the perfect site was located. George Ostrovsky provided a million dollars to get the project started and his family has continued to provide significant annual funding ever since. In order to complete the building, Teddy and the Jerusalem Foundation garnered further support from friends in the motion picture industry in Hollywood and around the world. The Jerusalem Foundation, and later the Van Leer Group Foundation, have continued to provide substantial financing in support of the Cinematheque.

In 1981 the Jerusalem Cinematheque officially opened and Lia van Leer was named Director. The universal language of film became an integral part of the Jerusalem landscape. Return>>